Thursday, December 17, 2009

The Path



I went on a quick run this morning in preparation for departing for our all-too-familiar-road-trip to CO. We are actually taking the girls skiing for their first time this year! Usually, we drop them at the grandparents and hit the slopes ourselves. We are about to experience it in a whole new way....

Anyway, on my run, I began an old series that Matt Chandle,r from the Village Church did last year. It is titled: "The Path." At the end of part 1, he starts talking about how there are no guarantees that any of us will live to be 70 years old. He went on to say he was sure he would be doing someone's funeral at that church within the year. Then he stated that someone could be doing his. My point in bringing all of this up is that Matt "has it!" Do you know what I mean when I say that he "has it?" He understands God and many of His mysteries have been revealed to him through the Word of God!!! He has a malignant brain tumor that was not encapsulated. (you can read about it here!) This means that they couldn't get it all in surgery. But, see, years ago before there was any evidence of anything growing on or around his brain, he was preaching the Word of God as if any of us (including him) could have such a thing! The importance of "having it" is going to mark how we live our lives in the face of such a trial.

Please watch THIS VIDEO from him two days before the surgery where they began to discover more about this tumor! He is in the face of an ugly trial and yet he stands firm on a platform for God's goodness and His glory to be revealed.

Video from Matt

This excites me so much that I too hope that I would consider such a diagnosis an honor to display God's character to those that need to see it! Do you "have it?" The mystery can be revealed. I so get that in the face of a trial you can still call God good! I get that He doesn't change when our circumstances do. May I live like I get it!!!! As I pray for Matt to have God's peace and for his family, will you join me that God would be glorified no matter the outcome? That the circumstances of this trial do not define God! But that God's goodness is displayed for all to see!

7 comments:

Chelle said...

Great post! I had the joy of working with Matt at a camp in CO a few years back. He's the real deal. The way his family is handling this? God is getting all kinds of GLORY!!!!

shanna said...

I too have been following Matt's journey. He is suffering well. I get so excited when this happens in the body of Christ...it gives all of us permission to do the same!

Karen Hossink said...

Oh, Rachel. I am clinging to the fact that God does not change even though our circumstances do. It brings me great security and peace to know that He is not "more" good when my surroundings are peaceful, and "less" good when I am in the midst of chaos.
God is constantly good.
And because of His steadfastness, I can trust in Him.
Thanks for sharing Matt's story. He is an inspiration!

Mimi said...

God is continually bringing him/them to my mind!! Isn't that great how The Body works when one part is suffering??

3RMama said...

Awesome. Inspiring. Thanks for sharing this!

Chelle said...

A bloggy treat awaits you on my blog.

Nikkie said...

i love this! mostly, i love when people~in the face of suffering, praise Him~even still. He is good, isn't rachel? when you get back from CO, we are having our coffee...our new year goal? i hope so.